The top 10 biggest player sales from EFL Championship clubs (Ranked) | OneFootball

West Ham may end up recouping a record fee for a Championship player if they sell Mateus Fernandes for £80 million this summer

As seasons progress, more and more money is being spent during transfer windows, and West Ham are looking to take advantage of that to perhaps break a Championship record.

The Hammers were relegated from the top flight after a 14-year stay this past season, and have to raise £150 million in player sales to remain within financial constraints ahead of the second-tier campaign.

With a team filled with players who have a European pedigree and have plenty of experience playing in the top five leagues, they aren't short of saleable assets, and Mateus Fernandes easily tops that list.

West Ham are reportedly demanding £80 million for the 21-year-old midfielder, with Manchester United and European champions PSG interested in signing him.

If that deal goes through, it'll be yet another Championship player being sold for a massive fee. In light of these reports, here are the 10 most expensive departures from second-tier clubs, per Transfermarkt's stats.

10 ? ? Tino Livramento - Southampton to Newcastle United - £32 million

Action Images

England international Tino Livramento burst onto the scene at Southampton during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign after arriving from Chelsea for just £5 million during the summer window.

The then-18-year-old hadn't made a senior appearance for the Blues, but quickly established himself as one of the more exciting young prospects in the top flight in his first season at St Mary's.

Unfortunately, an ACL injury suffered towards the tail end of that debut campaign meant that he was powerless to stop the Saints from succumbing to relegation during the 2022/23 term. He was fit enough to play cameo roles in the final two games of the season, but by then, the damage had already been done.

He was still a hot prospect despite that long-term injury, though, and Newcastle United would be the side to snap him up following the relegation for a £32 million fee.

9 ? ? Tyler Dibling - Southampton to Everton - £35 million

Action Images

Another Southampton sale, although this time a couple of years later. Tyler Dibling was one of the lone bright sparks of the otherwise dismal 2024/25 term, where the Saints came close to breaking Derby County's points record, collecting just 12 across 38 games.

However, academy graduate Dibling made a name for himself, appearing in 33 games, scoring a couple of goals and wowing fans with his dribbling ability.

Everton would be the side to bring him back to the Premier League last summer, parting ways with an initial £35 million for his services, which can increase to £40 million if add-ons are met.

So far, he hasn't been able to live up to that price tag, playing just 350 minutes and starting just four league games in his debut term at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

8 ? ? Archie Gray - Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur - £35 million

Action Images

The price tag surrounding Archie Gray's switch from Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 is a bit of a grey area. The BBC quoted the fee at "about £30 million," with Joe Rodon moving the opposite direction for £10 million, which would have sweetened the deal.

Transfermarkt states that Gray's fee was €41.25 million, though, which equates to £35 million, placing him eighth on the list.

The Leeds academy graduate enjoyed a stellar debut season at Elland Road, playing a huge role in the White's run to the Championship play-off final. However, after the defeat against Southampton, it was always going to be difficult to keep him away from the Premier League.

Tottenham were the team to bring him in, and while Spurs have finished 17th in both top-flight campaigns since the 20-year-old arrived in North London, the hype surrounding the midfielder hasn't dimmed just yet.

7 ? ? Omari Hutchinson - Ipswich Town to Nottingham Forest - £37.5 million

Action Images

Another switch from last summer, Omari Hutchinson was always going to command top-level interest following a solid couple of years at Ipswich Town in their promotion campaign and then their sole year in the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest looked to strengthen their squad ahead of a season where they'd be competing in the Europa League by spending £37.5 million on the wideman.

It's not been a standout campaign for the 22-year-old this past season, as he struggled to nail down a consistent spot in the starting eleven, but he still managed to provide a goal and five assists in just 17 top-flight starts at the City Ground, while helping Forest reach the Europa League semi-finals.

6 ? ? Harvey Barnes - Leicester City to Newcastle United - £38 million

Action Images

With the quality that Leicester City had in their ranks, it was a real shock when they were relegated in the 2022/23 campaign. Like with West Ham this summer, a fire sale was expected, and Harvey Barnes was at the top of the list.

The wideman had earned his debut England cap while at the King Power Stadium and scored 13 times despite the Foxes' relegation. Newcastle would snap him up for £38 million as they geared up for their first Champions League campaign in 20 years.

Barnes has continued to be one of the Premier League's more underrated wingers at St James' Park and is coming off a career year where he netted 16 times in all competitions, including six in the Champions League.

5 ? ? Mateus Fernandes - Southampton to West Ham - £38 million

Action Images

Ironically, Mateus Fernandes could occupy two places on this list by the end of the summer transfer window if West Ham receives the £80 million they're demanding for the 21-year-old's services, one year on from spending an initial £38 million to take him from Southampton after their relegation.

The Portuguese midfielder has now got two Premier League relegations on his CV in as many seasons, but not many at the London Stadium, nor at St Mary's, pointed the finger of blame at him.

Fernandes has been a creative spark for both clubs and, at 21, still has plenty of potential to become one of the premier playmakers in the world, hence the interest from Manchester United and PSG.

If the Hammers can make a profit on Fernandes, now they're a second-tier club, it would be impressive. Doubling it would be incredible.

4 ? ? Nathan Ake - Bournemouth to Manchester City - £40 million

Action Images

Once upon a time, Nathan Ake was the record Championship sale, after Manchester City spent £40 million to take him from Bournemouth following their relegation back in 2020.

The Dutchman was a stalwart in the Cherries' top-flight squads under Eddie Howe for the three years he spent at the Vitality Stadium after signing from Chelsea, starting all but one of their games in the 2017/18 campaign and starting every game the following year.

He was becoming well-established in the Netherlands squad, too, so it was no surprise to see the then-25-year-old depart for one of the biggest teams in the World.

Ake has won it all at Manchester City, with four Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, two EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2023, making 177 appearances along the way.

3 ? ? James Maddison - Leicester City to Tottenham Hotspur - £40 million

Action Images

Also on the Leicester selling block following their relegation in 2023 was James Maddison, who joined Tottenham for £40 million.

Like Barnes, the then-26-year-old attacking midfielder had played a big role in helping the Foxes to the FA Cup for the first time in their history, and had made his first senior England appearances while at Leicester, too.

He'd continue where he left off for Spurs during his first two seasons at the club, but endured an injury-ravaged campaign this past year, only making three appearances off the bench in the final three games of the term, after sustaining an ACL injury last summer.

The 29-year-old did his best to ensure he wouldn't be a Championship player next season, and he'll be hoping to stay as healthy as possible to avoid another relegation battle.

2 ? ? Georginio Rutter - Leeds United to Brighton and Hove Albion - £40 million

Georginio Rutter

Georginio Rutter was one of the more entertaining players that the Championship has seen in recent memory, playing a big part in Leeds' run to the play-off final in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring eight and assisting 16 in all competitions, alongside plenty of mazy dribbling runs.

Like Gray, though, when Southampton prevailed in the play-off final, the writing was on the wall, even if it did take until the final few weeks of the window to sanction a sale.

Brighton and Hove Albion broke their transfer record to bring him to the Amex Stadium, spending £40 million. While he's been constantly in the squad, he has yet to truly explode on the south coast.

1 ? ? Romeo Lavia - Southampton to Chelsea - £53 million

Action Images

By far and away the most expensive departure in Championship history is Romeo Lavia, after the then-19-year-old was embroiled in a transfer saga between Chelsea and Liverpool, in the end signing for the former for an initial £53 million, with £5 million in add-ons.

The Belgian had only spent a year at St Mary's after arriving from Manchester City, where he was highly rated in the academy, and despite being relegated, he was still expected to go on and do big things.

Lavia is still only 22, so he does still have the potential to hit those heights, but his three years at Stamford Bridge have been frustrating. He's made just 43 appearances in a Chelsea shirt due to several injury issues.